Watchman&#39;s clock.



F. HARDINGE. WATCHMANS-CLOCK. APPUCAUON FILED FEB.1.'1913.

Patented May 28,1918.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN HARDINGE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE HARDINGE BROTHERS COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

WATCHMAN S CLOCK.

Application filed February 7, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN HARDINGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in VVatchmens Clocks, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in watchmens clocks adapted to make a charteristic record upon a record receiving dial or disk contained within the clock casing when actuated in connection with marking mechanism, which is usually located at vari` ous points within the building or territory to be covered by the Watchman.

In connection with the watchmans clock of my invention I provide means adapted to make a record upon the dial or disk every time the clock casing is opened. This means takes the form of a knife adapted to puncture the dial whenever the locking devices for securing the hinged clock-back in closed position are moved to their non-locking position. I have found that whenever a knife having a straight cutting edge is used for puncturing the record dial, the paper of which the dial is made is quite likely to be torn as the puncturing operation is accomplished; thus leaving free edges which often-times are caught by the various clock devices as the dial rotates. In order to avoid this difficulty I provide the dial puncturing member with a crescent shaped cutting edge and so disposed with respect to the dial that the crescent cut will have its ends pointing in the direction of rotation of the dial and the free edges of the cut portion in the opposite direction; thus when the cut portion comes into contact with the recording or clock mechanism the free ends will be brought toward the plane of the body of the dial. I have found that when such a cutting edge is provided the paper dial may be punctured without in any way tearing the same or pre- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Serial No. 746,718.

senting any free edges to be caught in the clock (mechanism.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which;

Figure l is a rear elevational view of the watchmans clock of my invention with the hinged clock-back in open position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Similar reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

As illustrated, the watchmans clock of my invention comprises a casing 4 to which is hinged at 5 the usual clock-back 6. The said casing is provided with a pair of rings 7*,7 to which a strap may be attached in order that the clock may be easily carried by the watchman. These rings are also designed to serve as legs, as shown in Fig. 1.

Disposed within the casing 4 is the clock movement, a portion of the casing for Said movement being illustrated at 8. Driven at a uniform rate by the clock mechanism is a dial 9 preferably made of paper. Secured tothe casing 4 by means of screws 10 is a recording mechanism 11. This recording mechanism is adapted to make a characteristic record upon the dial 9 whenever a suitable key is inserted in the keyway 12, and the cam lever 13 of the operating mechanism is actuated. With this particular recording mechanism the present invention is, however, not particularly concerned.

I will now describe the means provided for locking the clock-back 6 in closed position and for making a record upon the dial every time the clock back is unlocked. As clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, the clock-back 6 is provided with a loop 14, which is adapted to be engaged by a locking lever 15, pivoted at 16 to a bracket 17, carried by the clock casing. In Fig. 2 the lever 15 is shown in its locking position. The dial 9 is disposed behind the bracket 17, as shown. Pivoted to thebracket- 17 is a plate 18, which is provided with a slot 1S@ as shown. rIhis slot 18a when the devices are in the position shoivn in Fig. 2, is adapted to register with an opening 17a extending through the bracket 17. Disposed in the opening 1'?EL is a cutting member 19, Which at one end is pivoted to an arm 2O of the locking lever 15.

A compression spring 21 acting between the front side of the bracket 17 and the arm 2() normally retains the locking lever in the position illustrated in Fig. 2 and retains the cutting member 19 out of engagement with dial 9.

Having bearings in the clock casing and a bracket 22, is a disk 23 Which may be readily rotated by means of a key inserted in a keyhole 24. The said disk'is provided With a cam portion 25, as most clearly shovvn in Fig. 3.

Assuming the parts to be in the positions shoivn in the drawings and the disk 23 is rotated in the direction indicated by the varrow, the cam portion 25 of the disk is brought between the lever 15 and the clock casing, thus forcing the hook of the locking lever out of engagement with loop 14; and at the saine time bringing the member 19 into engagement with dial 9 to record that the clock-back has been unlocked from the casing and moved to an open position.

I have found that it the cutting member 19 is provided with a straight cutting edge it will almost invariably tear the paper dial a triile as the puncturing of the dial is eftected. It the dial is torn there is quite apt to be free edges present Which are likely to be caught in the recording mechanism 11 as the dial is rotated. In order to avoid this diiiaculty, I provide the cutting member 19 with a crescent-shaped cut-ting edge 26, which makes a clean cut incision in the clock dial, and having the ends of the cut pointing in the direction of rotation of the dial, so that there are no free edges present to be caught in the recording mechanism 11, and so ailect the operation of the Watchmans clock.

While I have illustrated my invention in the particular embodiments herein shown and described, 1 do not vvish to be limited to these particular' constructions but desire to claim broadly any equivalents thereof which may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

lVhat I claim is:

1. A ivatchmans clock .comprising a casing, a movable dial Within the casing, said clock casing having one side thereof arranged t0 permit access to the dial, means for loc-king said side in closed position, and

devices comprising a member having a sub stantially crescent-shaped edge adapted to make a cut upon said dial When said side is unlocked from said casing, the crescent shaped. cut made by said member having its ends pointing in the direction ot' movement of the dial to prevent the cut portion of the .dial from being caught in the mechanism disposed immediately adjacent thereto.

2. A Watchmans clock comprising a casing, a movable dial vvithin the casing, said casing having one side thereof arranged to permit access to the dial, and means comprising a member having a substantially crescent-shaped cutting edge adapted to cut the dial to indicate upon said dial the fact that said side has been moved from its closed to an open position, the crescent shaped cut made by said member having its ends pointing in the direction of movement of the dial to prevent the cut portion of the dial from being caught in the mechanism disposed immedi ately adjacent thereto.

3. A ivatchmans clock, comprising a casing provided with a hinged member, and devices for locking said hinged member in closed position, a movable dial vvithin the casing, a knife provided with a substantially crescent-shaped cutting edge, and devices adapted to bring said edge into engagement with the dial to cut the same when said member is unlocked from said casing, the crescent-shaped cut made by said knife having its ends pointing in the direction of movenient of the dial to prevent the cut portion of the dial from being caught in the mechanism disposed immediately adjacent thereto.

Ll. A Watchmans clock comprising a casing, a movable dia-1 Within the casing, a i

hinged back Jfor said casing, and means comprising a member having a substantially crescent-shaped cutting edge for making a record on said dial in the form of a cut when said back has been opened, the crescent shaped cut made by said member having its ends pointing in the direction oi movement of the dial to prevent the cut portion of the dial from being caught in the mechanism for said clock, means for locking said back p in position, and means comprising a member having a substantially crescent-shaped cutting edge to cut said dial when said back is iio unlocked from the casing, the crescent to prevent the cut portion of the dial from shaped cut made by said member having its being caught in the mechanism disposed imends pointing in the direction of movement mediately adjacent thereto.

of the dial to prevent the cut portion of the In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 15 5 dial from being caught in the mechanism my name this 22nd day of January, A. D.,

disposed immediately adjacent thereto. 1913.

7. A Watchmans clock comprising a casing, a movable dial Within the casing, and

FRANKLIN HARDINGE.

means for making a substantially crescent VVitnesses: l0 shaped cut in the dial having its ends polnt- LESLIE W. FRIGKE, ing in the direction of movement of the dial A. G. MCCALEB.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Potent, Washington, D. 0." 

